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The problem is perfectionism: Egalitarianism is equality but not perfect equality
Karl Widerquist1, Grant S McCall2
1Georgetown University Qatar, Qatarkarl@widerquist.com.
The Behavioral and Brain Sciences
|October 2, 2026
Abstract:
This article argues that Duncan Stibbard-Hawkes and Christopher von Rueden's article, "Egalitarianism is Not Equality," makes an important point about egalitarianism, but it misidentifies its target. The problem is not outcome-versus-process definitions, as the authors suggest but perfectionist-versus-substantive definitions. The solution they propose qualifies as a good substantive definition.
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